"Rationing" is a dirty word to Republicans. Except when they're doing it, and what's being rationed is disaster aid. Ed O'Keefe at
The Washington Post writes about the projects FEMA has pulled funding from in order to try to ration its assistance.
With Congress still toiling over how to pay for federal disaster funding, reconstruction projects in 42 states totaling $447 million are on hold, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency records.[...]
The reconstruction and disaster mitigation projects—mostly road, bridge and public building repairs—are in limbo because FEMA’s disaster relief fund is almost out of money.
In the wake of Hurricane Irene’s destruction, the fund has less than $215 million available, far below the $1 billion agency officials prefer to keep on hand.
Following the late August storm that walloped 12 states, FEMA took emergency measures by suspending payments for older projects in order to provide immediate hurricane relief along the East Coast.
Though individuals eligible for federal disaster aid and state and city government recouping emergency response costs are still receiving funds, projects dating back as far as Hurricane Katrina are once again waiting for money.
Ok, so FEMA isn't broke, Republicans will argue, and what are some washed out roads, fire stations, bridges compared to the scary deficit? But $215 million can't hold out for that long considering how much damage the fires, the tornadoes, the hurricanes have done. Americans in disaster areas are just going to have to suck it up and go without for a while longer.
Oh, and remember Eric Cantor said: "Unequivocally, I am for making sure people get their money. I have never, never said that I’m holding anything hostage or would be playing politics with this.”
Yeah. Right.
